Martin Robertson

Now and Then

La Fontaine et le Déluge

“Some food, for pity.”  

 

“Why?  What did you do

in summer?”  

 

“I sang.”  

 

“Then dance the winter through.”

The courtiers of King Sun enjoyed the wit.

What did their children’s children think of it?

thin-legged and mocked, in London or in Lyme

timelessly scraping gay unheeded time

to guide in draughts and grease (rooms over shops)

rude Master Tom’s and prim Miss Betty’s hops.